SAN ANTONIO — An Air Force veteran who stabbed his father to death during what he said was an argument over money was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison.

Kyle Miller, 30, had faced up to life in prison after jurors in the 175th state District Court found him guilty Thursday of murder, rejecting his self-defense claim.

It took the same group about an hour Friday to decide his punishment. Jurors determined the slaying was the result of “sudden passion arising from adequate cause,” which reduced the maximum possible sentence to 20 years.

Miller was first tried on a murder charge in November, but state District Judge Mary Roman declared a mistrial after 19 hours of deliberations because the jury was deadlocked 11-1 in favor of a guilty verdict.

Miller stabbed Francis Davis, 53, one time in the chest with a 7-inch kitchen knife in April 2011, attorneys said. Miller had moved in with his father while he was studying to be an aircraft mechanic.

“Kyle stands by his self-defense statements. He always stood by them,” defense attorney Jim Wheat said. “But he was very glad the jury gave him an opportunity, and he's going to take advantage of that opportunity. He's already making plans and he'll show the jury that giving him a little leniency was the right choice.”

During the punishment phase of Miller's trial, Davis' sister testified that she didn't want her nephew to have a long prison sentence.

Also testifying on his behalf was Beverly Hager, with whom Miller has a 2-year-old son. Hager gave birth to the boy a month after Miller's arrest. He has never met his son, she said.

During closing arguments Thursday, prosecutor Catherine Wilson played for jurors a recording of the call Miller made to 911 after the stabbing.

“Oh Jesus, I just probably ruined my entire life,” he told the dispatcher. “He threatened me. I went to the kitchen, got a knife and I (expletive) stabbed him.”